My dad, David Doerfler, age 90,went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 27, 2024. He was born on August 16, 1933, in Emmeram, KS, the son of Joseph and Albina Doerfler, the 7th of 10 children. As a child, the family moved from Hays, KS to Wichita, KS where he had childhood jobs such as shining shoes at the barbershop at age 12 and working with
the Vornado fan company. We still have 3 green Vornado fans that still work. In his teen years his family moved to Fort Scott, KS where he attended high school and worked at the Nu Grill.
David served in the United States Army from1954 – 1956 where he was stationed in Germany. He had to eat a lot of liver and onions and thankfully that was a meal that was never allowed in our house when I was growing up. Upon returning home he took over the family-owned D & D Café, next to the railroad depot. Hamburgers were 5 for $1.00. He also met Kathryn Kalmat the Cottage – Inn and they were married in 1958. I was born in 1960, being their only child. In 1968, Dad sold the D & D Café to begin his postal career and retired as supervisor in 1992. David enjoyed his free time on the golf course. Back in the day at the Fort Scott Country Club, there were many tournaments, and he was club champion 5 times with 5 hole-in-ones to his credit. He passed his passion for golf on to his grandsons, Nick, and Alex, and relished the fact that they both played on the Jayhawk Linn high school golf team. He was a member of the Community Christian Church. Most of all he enjoyed the time spent with family.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy; daughter Pam Clark and husband David; grandsons Nicolas and Alex (Ellen) Clark; 2 great grandsons, Landen, and Arthur Clark; and a brother, Alan Doerfler, St. Louis, MO. He was preceded in death by an infant grandson, Logan Clark; 4 brothers; 4 sisters; and his parents.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 31st, at the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from10:00 AM Wednesday until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either Children’s Mercy Neo-Natal Unit or Community Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
